STEVENSON] ma'^ke ^hlan'nakwe 513 



arrow " he is to swallow and sprinkles the altar with meal from his 

 right hand; then he passes around the altar by the south side and takes 

 his position on the north side of the room and to the west end. 



After the arrows are distributed the ^Hleni'mosona takes his stand 

 at the end of the line near the east wall. The novice, who has kept 

 his seat until now, passes to the middle of the floor and stands facing 

 east. The drummer, who uses a wooden drum on this occasion, stands 

 near the south wall and west of the fireplace. All dance in an ellipse 

 once around the altar and return to their places. A new song is 

 begun, when the 'Hlem'mosona advances to the novice and, facing 

 east, swallows the arrow. After the arrow swallowing is repeated by 

 all, the fraternity father draws his arrow before the shoulders, mouth, 

 and ov^er the head of the novice. The novice makes four unsuccessful 

 efforts to swallow the arrow. The party now start for the Si'aa' 

 te'wita, preceded by the drummer, who takes his place on the east 

 side of the plaza. The leader wears a white cotton shirt, white 

 embroidered kilt, blue knit leggings, and dance moccasins. The 

 upper legs are exposed, but are not painted. He carries a pottery 

 meal basket and a po'nepoyanne^ in his left hand, and uses his right 

 to sprinkle meal. Each dancer carries a bow and arrows in his left 

 hand, and in his right hand the arrow he is to swallow and also his 

 rattle (plate cxix shows the Arrow ordei- in the plaza). The boxes of 

 the 'Hle'wekwe are encircled four times, then all stand for a moment, 

 shouting, "Ha — ha — ha;" the arrow director steps before the boxes 

 and, facing them, waves his arrow gracefully from right to left over 

 them, then waving it in a circle, he turns from right to left and 

 swallows the arrow, facing east. Both the swords and the arrows 

 are held horizontall}' and placed to the mouth while the head is erect, 

 then the head is moved gradually backward as the instrument is 

 pushed down the throat. Great care is observed in the feat, only 

 three men venturing to dance while swallowing the arrow. One man 

 gives three quite violent pressures to the shaft after the arrow is 

 down the throat. Each one in turn steps before the boxes, faces east, 

 and swallows his arrow. One man, failing to swallow his arrow, 

 waves it over the boxes around which they dance, and is then successful. 

 Groups of two face the cardinal points as they swallow the arrows. 

 The arrow dance is repeated three times in the plaza, the order retir- 

 ing after each dance to the ceremonial chamber, where after the 



a These arrows are not individual property, but belong to the order. Some are covered with a 

 glossy brownish substance, while others have it half over them, and others only one-third of the way 

 The arrows vary in size and form, many being sliglitly oval at the end, some arc pointed, and all 

 are rounded or oval where they are attached to the shaft, which is .slightly curved at this end. 



bThe Great Fire fraternity has a po'nepoyanm^ similar to the one of the 'HIe'wekwe ^see p. 417, 

 note (!) . 



23 ETH— 04 33 



